Cost Trend
A time series representing the relative development of a cost throughout the model run. A cost is specified for a Service or Resource Calibration Period; its value for other years is then calculated by multiplying the calibration cost by the normalised Cost Trend, i.e., the Cost Trend divided by its calibration-year value.
As an alternative to using Cost Trends, it is possible to define Resource costs as time series in their own right for individual Resources.
The Cost Trends for Capital, Maintenance, Churn, Decommissioning, Connection, Rental, Usage and Operations Cost may be defined both globally and for each individual Resource. The effective trend for each Resource is the product of these two trends, and these costs are further modified by individual Resource Age Factors for each cost.
Capital Costs may be modelled in more detail with reference to various Cost Index Cost Trends (as well as Economies of Scale).
Default: Constant {1.0}.
Age Factor
The annual costs of a Resource can be varied according to how old it is using Age Factors (e.g., it may cost more to maintain a Resource the older it is). Age Factors are un-normalised time series in which the ‘year’ is the age of the equipment.
Where an Age Factor is applied, the cost is calculated using the Cost Trend and then multiplied by the Age Factor.
Default: Constant {1.0}. The Cost Trend is unaffected by the age of the Resource.